October 1

Conservation is not only a hot political topic. It's an important mathematical concept. Right now, we are concerned with conservation of number.

 A child who can conserve number will know right away how many there are in a set no matter how the set is arranged. Here's something to try with your child to check for conservation of number.

Set out 6 items (pennies, forks, toy cars). The items don't matter, but they should be the same in some way. Have you child count to tell you how many there are. Then move one item so the arrangement is different. Ask again how many there are. Children who conserve number will immediately say, "Six," and think you slightly daft for asking.

Children who are still developing the idea of conservation of number will count the items again.

NOTE: I chose the number 6 because most Grade One children will have to count the first time, but the number is low enough that they are unlikely to make mistakes in counting. If you child does make a mistake in counting, help your child to count by touching or moving each item as it is counted.

Miss Owen

PS Five sleeps until our assembly performance.